Nkosinathi Emmanuel “Nathi” Mthethwa, the South African Ambassador to France, met a tragic end on Tuesday when he fell from a 22-story luxury hotel in Paris. Mthethwa’s death comes amid allegations of his involvement in a major corruption scandal in his home country. His body was discovered at the base of the four-star Hyatt Hotel in the western part of Paris, following a report by his wife of his disappearance on Monday afternoon.
Mthethwa’s wife had received a distressing message from him on Monday evening, which led her to contact the authorities. This triggered a comprehensive search operation in the western Paris woods. The hotel room from which Mthethwa fell had a window that seemed to have been forcibly opened. The room, situated on a high floor with a view of the Eiffel Tower, typically rents for $900 per night.
Mthethwa, a veteran politician and member of South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) party, had been serving as the ambassador to France since February 2024. Before this, he held key government roles as Minister of Arts and Culture and Minister of Police.
Recently, Mthethwa’s name was mentioned in the Madlanga Commission, a national South African investigation into widespread corruption and collusion between politicians and the police, including alleged ties to organized crime. A former high-ranking police officer testified to the commission on Monday that a drug cartel had permeated every aspect of police and politics in South Africa.
The cartel, dubbed the “Big Five,” is suspected of involvement in a variety of crimes, including contract killings, drug trafficking, hijackings, and fraud. Mthethwa was one of three police ministers accused of political interference during his tenure, according to reports from South Africa’s the Citizen newspaper. All three ministers are from the KwaZulu-Natal region of South Africa, a region notorious for political killings.
Mthethwa was also slated to testify as a witness regarding alleged corruption and misconduct within the police force. He was accused of attempting to convince officials to drop charges against a former head of South Africa’s police crime intelligence agency, according to testimonies heard during the commission hearings.
The circumstances surrounding Mthethwa’s death are still under investigation. His last public appearance was at a ceremony at a military cemetery in northern France last Saturday, where he laid a wreath for a South African soldier who died in World War One.
The ANC has not yet issued an official statement on Mthethwa’s death. However, international relations minister Ronald Lamola expressed his condolences, stating that Mthethwa’s passing is a loss not only for the nation but also for the international diplomatic community.